Raise a glass for one billion
Happiness, I am sure, can be found in a glass of milk, and since 2001, 1 June, World Milk Day, has been observed by the United Nations. It was initiated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to mark the importance of dairy. World Milk Day focuses on raising public awareness about the importance of milk as part of a healthy and balanced diet and as an agricultural product. It also aims to highlight the significance of the milk sector and milk producers, in particular, the one billion people around the world who derive their livelihoods from the dairy sector.
In 2016, World Milk Day was celebrated by over 40 countries. Activities included holding marathons and family runs, milking demonstrations and farm visits, school-based activities, concerts, conferences and seminars, competitions and a range of events focusing on promoting the value of milk and illustrating the important role played by the dairy industry in the national economy.
The fact that many countries choose to do this on the same day lends additional importance to individual national celebrations and shows that milk is a global food and that it is part of all diets and cultures.
Whether milk is a breakfast drink that goes with your cereals or tea in the morning, or whether milk is paired with the children’s cookies, this year we invite you to raise a glass to celebrate the benefits of milk for our lives.
This year’s campaign, “Raise a Glass”aims to raise awareness on the multiple benefits of consuming milk. You can contribute to this important event by organising an event and/or by joining the global digital campaign “Raise a Glass”. This universal gesture of celebration lies at the heart of all communities. As we raise a glass to milk, we connect with others and invite them to join the celebration that the goodness represents. It allows us to share the stories about all the goodness of milk and all the people who produce it. It offers a simple, natural way to recognise the people who matter most to us — in our communities, schools, and homes.
